Editorial: Protesting IBM layoffs is no strategy substitute

IBM's plant in the Town of Poughkeepsie is seen in this aerial photo.

Surely, there is no harm in high-profile protests that include members of the mid-Hudson Valley's state delegation keeping pressure on IBM about its job commitments.

IBM Corp. and many other huge companies receive all sorts of tax breaks, yet Big Blue has announced another round of layoffs.

But such protests are no substitute for a comprehensive economic strategy, and this area is clearly in need of one. While the exact number isn't known, more IBM employees are expected to lose their jobs at the end of this month.

IBM once employed more than 30,000 people in the mid-Hudson Valley, but that number is down to about 7,000 workers, and it seems obvious the downward spiral will continue.

As has been expressed numerous times, the area must press forward with economic diversity and put a premium on aiding small businesses. The mid-Hudson Valley has to build on its strengths, its biotechnology and health care fields, its proximity to New York City, and its farming and tourism industries.

Yet, while this occurs, perspective is needed. IBM is still by far the largest private company in Dutchess County, and the high-tech electronics manufacturing businesses typically provide the type of good-paying jobs that this area so desperately needs.

Public-private partnerships in luring more companies here are part of the equation. The tax incentives that have gone to IBM clearly have not created jobs over the last decade or so - but it's a bit harder to determine how many they have saved from vanishing earlier.

The state has to do a far better job of distilling the impact of its tax-incentive programs and demand far more transparency from those receiving the benefits.

The state also has to do far better on lowering taxes and energy costs in its attempts to lure business expansion and start-ups.

Meanwhile, the mid-Hudson Valley has to take stock of what it has - and what it lacks - to grow high-tech and other important industries. There are numerous vacant sites, including former IBM properties and state institutions, that are near major transportation corridors and have other positive attributes. But many of them also require considerable environmental cleanups and are stocked with outdated buildings that aren't conducive for today's business needs.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro recently spoke, in stark terms, of the challenges the area faces in the expectation of more IBM layoffs.

He says a comprehensive strategy blueprint will be made public soon, adding that he wants to see a solid alliance among the various economic development groups to ensure better coordination.

Breaking down these silos is important. This notion has been in the formative stage for about a year and must get traction. But, in reality, the county can do only so much to grow jobs and the economy.

State and federal officials will have to play important, active roles as well, recognizing that everything from tax policies to the monies offered through various environmental cleanup programs will be factors in pushing the area forward.

So will securing grants and other money that become available for water and sewer projects and upgrades, certainly keys to attracting businesses.

The economy is doing better in certain sectors and places across the country, but the mid-Hudson Valley's recovery has been slow for a confluence of reasons, including its historical reliance on IBM and its over-reliance on the once-booming housing market.

Recalibration is the order of the day.

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Editorial: Protesting IBM layoffs is no strategy substitute

Surely, there is no harm in high-profile protests that include members of the mid-Hudson Valley's state delegation keeping pressure on IBM about its job commitments.